Railroad-crossing.



C. F. KELLY.

RAILROAD CROSSING.

APIfLIOATION FILED DEO.14. 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

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CHARLES E. KELLY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns F. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railroad crossings, the object of the invention being to provide improved mechanism which is controlled by the movement of cars to bridge the gap in the tread'portion of the rails where the latter cross, so that the wheels will not bump or ar at the crossing.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism of this character which is controlled automatically by the car approaching the crossing from either direction, and which improvements are of extremely simple construction, strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure -1 is a plan view illustrating my improved attachment in full lines and the rails of the crossing in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the rails in full lines as well as the attachment. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in sec tion on an enlarged scale through one of the corners of the crossing. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of the operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a detail of construction.

1, 1, represent the rails of a track which cross the rails 2, 2. of a track at right angles to the rails 1. The rails 1 and 2 are illus trated as of the ordinary groove type, and are provided where they cross with gaps which are bridged by my improved blocks 8 movable through openings 4 in the grooves of the rails, and operated by my improved mechanism which will be hereinafter explained. I have illustrated the rails as supported upon bars or ties having platforms 6 affixed thereto, but I would have it understood that the invention is not limitedto any particular supporting means, but my improvements may be adapted for use in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, 1912.

Patented Nov. 1 1, 1913.

Serial No. 736,693.

connection with various styles of support and incasement to protect the improvements from the weather, and I may resort to other well known expedients in the railroad art to. best adapt my improvements for the particular use.

The blocks 3 above referred to are preferably rectangular in form, and are provided at their lower ends with pins 7 which are guided in openings 8 in lugs 9 preferably integral with the rails. These blocks 3 are elevated by wedge blocks 10 secured to bars 11. As. seen most clearly in Fig. 1, there are four of these bars 11, and each bar is provided with two wedge blocks, so that when the bars are moved in one direction, 7

the wedge blocks cause their rail blocks 3 to elevate, and when moved in the opposite direction, permit the rail blocks 3 to lower. In Fig. 8, the operation of one of these wedge blocks is illustrated on a somewhat enlarged scale. It will be seen that the wedge block is tapered at one end, but throughout a portion of its length has a straight or horizontalupper surface 12, so that when the rail block 3 is elevated, it will rest upon the horizontal surface 12 and be securely held against downward movement. In other words, this straight surface not only allows a movement of the parts after the block 3 is elevated, but it also prevents the weight of the car on the block from moving the wedge.

At each corner of the crossing, I provide bell-crank-levers 13 which are supported upon the platform 6 above referred to.

These bell-crank-levers each consist of a 7 short vertical shaft 14E having two crank arms 15 and 16 secured thereto. These crank arms are connected to bars 26. There are four of these bars 26 located below the bars 11. Each bar 26 is connected with the bar 11 above by means of a lever 27. The levers 27 are fulcrumed between their ends on bolts 28, and at their upper ends extend through openings 29 in bars 11 and haveslot and pin connection with said bars. The lower ends of said levers are pivotally connected to the bars 26 asshown at 30. and said levers at their fulcrum points are formed with longitudinal slots 31 in which rollersv 32 on the bolts 28 are located,

so that friction is reduced to a minimum. It will thus be seen that when the bar 26 is moved in one direction, the lever 27 will be, swung on it fulcrum to move the bar 11 above in an opposite direction. It will-thusbe seen that by reason of the bell-'crank levers 13, the bars 26 and the levers 27 the movement of all of the bars are simultaneous. minimum of friction, I have provided longitudinal slots 17 in the, arms of the bellcrank-levers, and through these slots bolts To facilitate this movement with a 18 are projected. These bolts 18 extend of car. These pins are shown located in the tread portion of therail, but it is of course to be understoodthat they may be otherwise located and at their "bifurcated lower gendsthey have slot and pin connection with the straddle arms 22 of bell-crankqlevers 28;, the latter being fulcrumed .lupon bolts 24: secured in the rails. The other arms 25 ,of said belLcrank-levers .23 are pivjotallyconnecte'd to the bars 26, so that when the pins 21 are depressed, they cause the bars 26and 11 to move in a direction to elevate the proper blocks 3 and permit thej others to lower. In other words, if the? blocks in the crossing grooves are elevated tloa point in line with the treads of the rails,the pips 21in the trackwill be lowcer ed', but the reverse also true the blocks are in a lowered position, the iplns 21% will be elevated, so that a car approaching the crossing will first depress pins 21 and through the medium of levers 23, bars 26,

levers l4, levers 27, and bars 11, the several wedgeslo will be moved to elevate the proper blocks and permit the others to lower. In-other words, the parts are so arragiged that :When the blocks are-raised to bridgethe gaps one track, they are low.- eredin the grooves of the other track, so

that whilethe wheels of a car pass smoothly over a corner without jolt, they do not come in contact with the blocksin the other track. 'While I have illustrated whatI believe to b a 'prefe red a rang m of Parts, I

would have it understood that Ido not limit myself {to the precise details set forth, ,but consider :.myself at. liberty to r mak-e such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the-spiritand scope of the appended claims. I

' 'l-Iav ing' thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentisz V a 1'- he mb n t with. rai noad r sn h vin en ge a the j c ur {of it crQsSing rails, vertically movable blocks in said e -s n s ad pt t bridge th gap tween the rails, horizontally positioned bars other, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks Vertically, said wedges having below thelolocks at right angles to each straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest whenin anelevated position, and means for moving said bars 1n both dn'ections, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a railroad crossing having openlngs at the uncture 'QfJtS crossing ralls, vert cally movable blocks in said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally positioned bars bclowthe blocks, wedges on said barsadapted to move theblocks vertically, said wedges having straight upper portions upon which theblocks rest when in an elevated position, lugs on the rails 'having openings therein, pins on ,the blocks in said openings in the lugs, and means for moving said bars in both directions, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a railroad crosshaving openings at the juncture of its crossing rails, vertically movable blocksin said openings adapted to bridge the gap :between the rails, horizontally positioned bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks vertically, said wedges having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, other bars below the first-mentioned bars, levers 11lcrume(l.between their ends and connecting the respective sets of upper and' lower bars, whereby the movement of ,the latter inone direction causes the movement of the former in the opposite direction, means compelling the lower set of bars to move simultaneously, and means operated by a car for moving said bars, substantially as described.

4. The combmation wlth a railroad crossing having openings at the juncture of its crossing rails, vertically movable blocks in said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally positioned bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks vertically, said wedges having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, lugs on the rails havin openings therein, pins on the blocks in said openings in the lugs, other bars below the first-mentioned bars, levers fulcrumecl between their ends and connecting the respective sets of upper and lower bars, whereby the movement of the latter in one direction causes thc movement of the former in the opposite direction, means compelling the lower set of bars to move simultaneously, and means operated by a car for moving said bars, substantially asdescribed. I

7 5. The combination with a railroad crossing having openings at the juncture of its crossing rails, vertically movable blocks in said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally )OSll'iOIlGCl bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars wedges having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, other bars below the firstmentioned bars, levers fulcrumed between their ends and connecting the respective sets of upper and lower bars, whereby the movement of the latter in one direct-ion causes the movement of the former in the opposite direction, means compelling the lower set of bars to move simultaneously, bell-crank-levers pivotally connected to the rails and connected to the last-mentioned levers, and pins projecting through thetreads of the rails and engaging said last-mentioned bell-crank-levers whereby the dcpres sion of said pins causes the movement of said blocks, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a railroad crossing having openings at the juncture of its crossing rails, vertically movable blocks in said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally positioned bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks vertically, said wedges having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, lugs on the rails having openings therein, pins on the blocks in said openings in the lugs, other bars below the first-mentioned bars, levers fulcrumed between their ends and connecting the respective sets of upper and lower bars, whereby the movement of the latter in one direction causes the movement of the former in the opposite direction. means compelling the lower set of bars to move simultaneously, bell-crank-levers pivotally connected to the rails and connected to the last-mentioned levers, and pins projecting through the treads of the rails and engaging said lastmentioned bell-crank-levers, whereby the depression of said pins causes the movement of said blocks, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a railroad crossing having openings at the juncture of its crossing rails, vertically movable blocks in said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally positioned bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks vertically, said wedges having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, other bars below the first-mentioned bars, levers fulcrumed between their ends and connecting the respective sets of upper and lower bars, whereby the movement of the latter in one direction causes the movement of the former in the opposite direction, bell-crank-levers at the angles of the crossing having slotted arms, straps on the last-mentioned levers, bolts projected through the last-mentioned levers, through} the slots in the bell-crank-lever arms, and through straps, rollers on said bolts between the straps and the last-mentioned bars, and means operated by a car for moving said last-mentioned bars, substantially as described. 7

8. The combination with a railroad cross- 'ing having openings at the juncture of itscrossing rails, vertically movable blocks in 7 said openings adapted to bridge the gap between the rails, horizontally positioned bars below the blocks, wedges on said bars adapted to move the blocks vertically, said wedges-having straight upper portions upon which the blocks rest when in an elevated position, lugs on the rails having openings therein, [pins on the blocks in said openings in the lugs, other bars below the first-mentioned bars, levers fulcrumed between their endsand connecting the respective sets of upper and lower bars, whereby the movement of the latter in one directioncauses the movement of the former in the opposite direction, bell-crank-levers at the angles of the crossing having slotted arms, straps on the last-mentioned levers, bolts projected through the last-mentioned levers, through the slots in the bell-crank-lever arms and through the straps, rollers on said bolts between the straps and the last-mentioned bars, and means operated by a car for moving said last-mentioned bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

CHARLES F. KELLY.

Witnesses:

R. H. KRENKEL, CHAS. E. Por'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

